Trial begins for man accused of murdering youth football coach

Suspect faces 21 to life if convicted

The trial for a man accused of gunning down a popular youth football coach began Monday in Butler County Court.

Myron Doby, 55, is accused of murdering Donnell Holland, 44, in December 2012.

Holland, who was an assistant coach for Hamilton's Big Blue Football team, was called "Big D." He was known for his big heart and smile.

Holland was shot to death in the Grub Pub parking lot, three days after Christmas.

"You will hear testimony and evidence that Mr. Holland was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, several to his legs and one to his head," assistant prosecutor Brad Burress told jurors today.

Burress said hours prior to Holland's death, he and Doby had a fight at another bar where Holland was a bouncer.

A second fight broke out at the Grub Pub.

Then prosecutors said Doby put an end to the fighting.

"And he had a gun pointed at him. Donnell Holland raised his hands and said, 'No, don't shoot me.' This defendant fired one shot at Donnell," Burress said. "And fired numerous more shots into the body of Donnell Holland."

Defense attorneys aren't denying Doby killed Holland but they said their client is not a murderer.

"We believe that clearly the evidence is going to show that there was provocation in the death of Donnell Holland which takes this homicide out of the range of murder and makes it a manslaughter," said Mike Shanks, Doby's defense attorney.

The defense argues the 300-plus pound football coach severely beat Doby twice that night. They said Doby was half his size.

"He was mad, he was incensed, he was provoked but didn't commit murder," Shanks said.

The trial is expected to last three days.

If convicted, Doby faces a sentence of 21 years to life in prison.

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